The journal Science published a study in February of more than 1,200 eagles in 38 states. Almost half the eagles in the study had chronic lead poisoning.
The bald eagle was struggling for breath when it arrived at the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur. Seizures shook the bird’s iconic snow-white head. Its dark wings rose and stiffened at awkward angles.He rushed to the eagle’s aid and stayed late into the night, dispensing difficult-to-obtain medication, as well as fluid for hydration and kind words for comfort. But the seizures continued, racking the bird’s body every five or 10 minutes.
“This is a problem that has been going on for over 80 years, and it’s a little mind-blowing that nothing has really, majorly, been done about it,” Nuzzo said. The study found that cases of recent lead poisoning rise in winter, when eagles are most likely to be feeding on contaminated deer carcasses and gut piles.
“When you start piecing all of that together, there are very strong correlations suggesting that this is the pathway whereby eagles are lead-poisoned,” Slabe said. Some eagle advocates lean toward a ban, with Nuzzo saying that at this point “it’s probably the best bet.” If an eagle eats the contaminated meat, lead can cause problems with breathing, circulation, reproduction or respiration. Some eagles with lead poisoning lose their ability to fly. Eagles can also suffer brain damage or get food stuck in the crop — a storage area in the esophagus — and starve to death.